Editor's Note: This Highlighter Project is part of a feature series by Foster's Online News Editor Janine Mitchell to highlight local people making their community shine. The Highlighter Project is published in print, but also includes video and a photo slide show on Fosters.com. To nominate a hard-working community member email jmitchell@fosters.com or call 742-4455 Ext. 5217.

Now, after earning a degree in child and family studies and teaching for some time, Cheney has found her true passion within the books of the library and the hearts of her students.

"We were always reading. It was always OK to read. Nothing was censored and we could read whatever we wanted," Cheney said of her upbringing.

Years later she helps every child going through Garrison School in Dover find a safe place within the confines of her library's four walls.

With a continued dedication to engaging students' interests, Cheney comes up with new themes and exciting teaching tools to keep "her kids'" minds moving.

"Whenever we read books, we read them for a reason," said a third-grade girl who calls her teacher "Queeny Cheney."

"Every year we have a theme, and one year it was 'Reading Reigns.' So, somehow or another the 'queen' bit stuck," says Cheney of her dubbed nickname.

And, the nickname is not limited to the students — even Principal Dustin Grey at Garrison School calls the librarian "Queeny."

But don't be fooled, the Queen of the Library rarely kicks her feet up.

"I think everything that she does goes above and beyond what it expected of her — both in her job expectations and in civic leadership. She's a fantastic lady who works really hard around the school to make things happen," said Grey.

Cheney explains in addition to themes in the classroom, she and the fellow librarians at Dover's two other elementary schools work tirelessly to stay on the same page and incorporate the latest computer equipment into students' daily learning.

"From the day I started, as an aid, until today, she's just a great partner and a great colleague and full of energy, full of ideas, and she always pushes us to get the latest technology," said Cheney's friend and librarian at Woodman Park School in Dover, Laura Horan.

She adds, "She has a very engaging personality and she is enthusiastic about what she enjoys and what she loves. So, she's very willing to share that with the people in her school or with us."

Similarly, Linda Smart, librarian at Horne Street School in Dover, sings Cheney's praises for leading her toward this career she loves.

Both Smart and Horan started as library aids in the Dover School District while Cheney was the sole librarian for all three elementary schools traveling between the three daily. Eventually, Cheney lead the two of them through additional higher education in order to take their reign as librarians.

"We're a great team because Debra was the leader, now we're all just equal colleagues and we have a great time together. I think we are great with our kids, and I think that the kids at Garrison are very lucky to have Debra," said Smart.

Horan agrees, and adores Cheney for supporting her on her journey toward becoming a full-time librarian.

"She guided me through graduate school, helping me find out how to get letters of recommendation and that sort of thing, and managing graduate work, and teaching, and family — she just helped me keep it all in perspective and coached me through," says Horan.

Being supportive of her co-workers and students seems like second nature to Cheney who says she knows all of her students' names, who they're friends with and understands their personalities.

She states simply, "It's about being human."

"I always feel that when a child walks in or when I hear them in the hallways I'm responsible for them, I'm responsible for helping them know what to do ... I could pretend that, 'oh, well that's somebody else's class, I don't have anything to do with it.' But, that wouldn't be the right thing," she says.

Since students at Garrison School will not have Cheney in their life forever she insists upon making libraries a "safe place" for them to go for the rest of their lives. In any community, she says, there is a library nearby where people can go to get away from any stresses in their life.

"I like this job so much because the children are personalities and growing-up people, and you want to help them make some good decisions, and learn well, and be prepared for being an adult," she says.

She admits the 5 a.m. alarm Monday through Friday and the routine of packing a similar lunch day after day can be a drag, she says, "I can say that sometimes it's a little rough on the jump start, but once you see the kids, it's great. Children add a lot of sunshine, they really do."

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